Universal swing practice mat and method of use

ABSTRACT

A mat is configured to be placed on a ground surface so as to have an upwardly-facing surface and provides multiple foot position demarcations formed on the upwardly-facing surface so as to represent the user&#39;s stance upon the mat. Multiple ball position demarcations formed on the upwardly-facing surface substantially opposite of the foot position demarcations represent the location of a ball relative to the user swinging a golf club and standing upon the mat at the location of the foot position demarcations. A swing zone demarcation formed on the upwardly-facing surface is offset from the foot position demarcations and the ball position demarcations so as to represent an optimal path of light originating from a light source when the club is swung by the user

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

Applicant(s) hereby incorporate herein by reference, any and all U.S.patents, U.S. patent applications, and other documents and printedmatter cited or referred to in this application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to golf practice apparatus and moreparticularly to a visual training device using a light path to correctones swing.

2. Description of Related Art

The following art defines the present state of this field:

Hannaford, U.S. Pat. No. 2,080,608 describes a golf swing practicedevice comprising a stick abbreviated relative to the usual length of agolf club shaft and weighted to have its center of gravity closelyadjacent one end of the same, a double convex lens at said end, andelectric light filament within said stick and so shaped and spaced fromsaid lens that the image of said filament will be clearly projected ontothe playing surface in the form of an elongated bar as the stick isswung there over, and means to energize said filament.

Hernberg, U.S. Pat. No. 4,971,328 describes a golf swing training devicecomprising of a grip, a foreshortened shaft and a hollow head. The headcontains a battery activated by a switch also located within the head,to illuminate a lamp, also within the head. The lamp emits a beam oflight downward to the ground and forward of the club head. The lightbeam permits the golfer to trace the arc of light corresponding to thegolfer's swing to impart a mental image to the golfer of the preciseclub head path. The device also comprises a linear guide strip, which isplaced on the ground in front of the golfer to establish the desiredclub head path. The golfer preferably follows the path of the light beamduring a swing and compares the light path to the guide strip.

Daechsel, U.S. Pat. No. 5,161,802 describes a golf practice devicecomprising a golf club handle, and a shaft cut shorter than normal, witha unique head weighted to equal the swing of a regular club. The headcontains a battery for a light, which is centrally mounted with lens andiris to produce a focused, rectangular spot of light, parallel to theshaft centerline. The device also has a combinationlevel-and-centrifugal switch that turns on the light spot when the shaftis level at the start of the down swing, and also as the head travelsthrough the bottom of the swing. The rectangular light beam shows thepath of the swing through a target ball, allowing the user to check theaccuracy of the swing as well as the squareness of the club head to atarget line. The target comprises a golf ball with two electronicreceivers on either side in a straight line. The visual light path showsthe direction of the swing, and the sound from the electronic receiverindicates to the golfer when a precise swing has been achieved. Asrepeat accuracy improves with practice, the light beam can be narrowedby adjusting the iris for still greater accuracy.

Seibel et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,759,110 describes a swing-training deviceincluding a housing which contains a light source, a power source and adriving circuit for generating a beam, such as a laser beam. Suitableoptics, such as a collimator lens and a beam splitter (such as ahalf-mirror or a prism) are placed in the housing in order to split ahighly defined beam so that a first beam is radiated along thelongitudinal axis of the golf club shaft and a second beam is radiatedat roughly a 90-degree angle with respect to the first beam. A gravityswitch in the swing training device provides that the beams are onlyradiated during the back swing and follow through of a golf club, thussimplifying operation, saving power and reducing the likelihood ofinadvertent radiation of the laser beam into the face of the golfer orbystanders. The invention may also include a mat, which has indicia forproperly aligning lighted dots generated on the mat by the laser beamsin order that the golfer may develop a proper swing form. The housinghas a nesting portion, which is received within an upper open end of agolf club shaft. The housing is removably secured to the golf club shaftby a collar and set-screw arrangement. The cap on the housing may berotatable to provide for radial adjustment of the second beam, to suitthe needs of the golfer.

Hamilton, U.S. Pat. No. 5,924,934 describes a practice golf club that isshort for carrying in luggage, but is weighted to a standard D3 swingweight. It has a shaft with first and second ends, with a first grip onthe first end, a second grip on the second end, and a head projectingtransversely from the second end for visual alignment of the club. Ithas a laser beam projecting from the second end of the shaft along theaxis of the shaft. The golfer grips the first end of the shaft andswings the practice club, causing the laser to trace a line on the floorthat provides feedback about the lower part of the swing. The golfergrips the second end of the shaft and swings the practice club, causingthe laser to trace a line on the floor that provides feedback about theupper part of the swing. The golfer places the club horizontally acrossthe thighs and observes the laser dot near a target to square theaddress stance.

Laffer et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,954,592 describes a golf swing trainingsystem including a light source such as a laser light that generates alight beam from the grip end of a golf club and a mat having disposedthereon graphics depicting a preferred light beam path. Upon swingingthe golf club such that the light beam projects upon the mat followingthe light beam path golfers are taught how to swing the club along apreferred swing plane.

Heckaman, U.S. Pat. No. 5,993,333 describes a swing trainer deviceincluding a laser beam mechanism having a laser beam light source andbatteries for emitting a laser beam, and further includes a laser beamattachment member which is essentially a flexible sleeve having an openfirst end which is removably engaged about the end of either the handleof a golf club or the barrel of a bat, and further having an open secondend which is securely engaged about the end of the back portion of thelaser beam mechanism. A laser beam is directed away from and in the sameplane as the handle of the golf club or the barrel of the bat. Thisswing trainer device is swung in a single plane to help the usermaintain a consistent swing each and every time through musclememorization.

Shearer et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,386,988 describes a golf swing trainingand exercise system for improving the golf swing of a golfer. The systemincludes a mat with an optically reflective surface, an elongated golfdevice having three sections and two lasers. Each laser attaches to oneend of the golf device and projects a laser beam onto a mat.

Schaum, U.S. Pat. No. 6,482,099 describes a golf-training device, whichclamps onto the shaft of a standard golf club. The device has a holdingblock, which holds a laser pointing in a downward direction. A hingedmirror at the light-emitting end of the laser causes the laser light tobe reflected at roughly a ninety-degree angle and thereby run parallelto the ground. An alignment strip and separate target helps the usercalibrate the training device so that the laser beam is perpendicular tothe flat head striking area of the golf club. The alignment strip canthen be removed allowing the user to move the target to any reasonabledistance. In this way a golfer can learn the proper alignment of clubhead to hole thereby improving his or her ability to accurately putt agolf ball towards and into the hole. The hinged mirror on the trainingdevice of the present invention can also be swung down so that the laserlight is pointing straight down. In this orientation a user can swing agolf club in a practice room and observe the swing path of the club asthe laser light forms a line as it strikes the floor, wall and ceiling.The training device of the present invention is easily attached andremoved and is compact enough to be carried in ones pocket.

Carpenter, U.S. Pat. No. 6,592,376 describes a golf training aid and amethod of using the golf training aid. The face of the golf training aidis mirrored and permanently etched with several reference markingsillustrating proper ball position, proper setup position, and properclub and body position at several points during the swing. The aid ismarked for use with woods, irons, and the putter. In one embodiment ofthe invention, the reference markings include several lines and textualprompts. In another embodiment of the invention, the textual prompts andsome of the lines are replaced by icons. The back of the golf trainingaid is flat, allowing it to sit flush on a practice surface, thusallowing the golfer to practice a golf swing with head down and eyes onthe ball while simultaneously viewing his own image juxtaposed withmarkings for a proper swing. The aid is used by placing it on thepractice surface along the target line and optionally securing it inposition. The golfer then takes up proper setup position based on thebody position reference markings on the face of the aid and swings basedon the club position reference markings on the face of the aid. Ifdesired, the golfer can have the face of the aid marked, eithertemporarily or permanently, with individualized markings for bodyposition and club position.

Shearer et al., U.S. 2002/0123384 describes a golf swing training andexercise system for improving the golf swing of a golfer. The systemincludes a mat with an optically reflective surface, an elongated golfdevice having three sections and two lasers. Each laser attaches to oneend of the golf device and projects a laser beam onto a mat.

Our prior art search with abstracts described above teaches a golf gameimprover, a golf swing trainer, a golf practice device, a swing trainingdevice, a golf swing practice club with laser pointer, a golf swingtraining system, a swing training method with game ball hittingimplement, a golf swing training and exercise device, a device andmethod for golf training, and a golf swing training and exercise device,but does not teach a training mat with light path visual aids of thetype and use of the present invention. The present invention fulfillsthese needs and provides further related advantages as described in thefollowing summary.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention teaches certain benefits in construction and usewhich give rise to the objectives described below.

A mat is configured to be placed on a ground surface so as to have anupwardly-facing surface and provides multiple foot position demarcationsformed on the upwardly-facing surface so as to represent the user'sstance upon the mat. Multiple ball position demarcations formed on theupwardly-facing surface substantially opposite of the foot positiondemarcations represent the location of a ball relative to the userswinging a golf club and standing upon the mat at the location of thefoot position demarcations. A swing zone demarcation formed on theupwardly-facing surface is offset from the foot position demarcationsand the ball position demarcations so as to represent an optimal path oflight originating from a light source when the club is swung by the user

A primary objective of the present invention is to provide an apparatusand method of use of such apparatus that provides advantages not taughtby the prior art.

Another objective is to provide such an invention capable of improving agolf swing.

A further objective is to provide such an invention capable ofmaintaining spine angle in a golf swing.

A still further objective is to provide such an invention capable ofavoiding cupped cup wrist positions in a golf swing.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following more detailed description, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way ofexample, the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawing illustrates the present invention. In suchdrawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The above described drawing figure illustrates the invention in at leastone of its preferred embodiments, which is further defined in detail inthe following description. Those having ordinary skill in the art may beable to make alterations and modifications in the present inventionwithout departing from its spirit and scope. Therefore, it must beunderstood that the illustrated embodiments have been set forth only forthe purposes of example and that they should not be taken as limitingthe invention as defined in the following.

The present invention is a universal swing practice mat 10 apparatus foruse by a golfer swinging a golf club (not shown) having a light sourceattached to it. The mat is configured to be placed on a flat groundsurface; the mat 10 providing an upwardly-facing surface 20. Multiplefoot position demarcations 30 are formed on the upwardly-facing surface20 so as to represent the preferred position of a user's stance upon themat 10. Multiple ball position demarcations 40 are also formed on theupwardly-facing surface 20 substantially opposite the foot positiondemarcations 30 so as to represent the location of a golf ball (notshown) relative to the user swinging the club and standing upon the mat10 at the location of the foot position demarcations 30. At least oneswing zone demarcation 50 is formed on the upwardly-facing surface 20offset from the foot position demarcations 30 and the ball positiondemarcations 40 so as to represent an optimal path of light originatingfrom the light source when the club is swung by the user. In this mannerthe apparatus is configured to accommodate users of varying sizes andstances and clubs of varying lengths and to provide to such users visualfeedback of the club position at defined swing positions, enabling suchusers to assess and improve swing mechanics.

Preferably, the swing zone demarcation 50 terminates at a first end 52substantially adjacent to the ball position demarcations 40 andterminates at a second end 54 substantially adjacent to the footposition demarcations 30.

Preferably, the swing zone demarcation 50 includes a substantiallylinear full-swing demarcation 55 originating at the first end 52 andextending away from and substantially perpendicular to the ball positiondemarcations 40, the full-swing demarcation 55 being configured toenable the optimal path of light to track within the full-swingdemarcation 55 at a top position of a mechanically sound swing of theclub by the user, the top position being defined by the location of theclub during the swing substantially over the head of the user such thatthe club is substantially parallel to the ground surface. Asubstantially linear mid-swing demarcation 57 originating at the secondend 54 and extending away from the foot position demarcations 30substantially parallel with the full-swing demarcation 55, the mid-swingdemarcation 57 being configured to enable the optimal path of light totrack within the mid-swing demarcation at a midway position of theswing, the midway position being defined by the location of the clubduring the swing substantially at the waist-height of the user such thatthe club is substantially parallel to the ground surface.

a substantially arcuate high-swing demarcation 59 originating at thefirst end 52 along with the full-swing demarcation 55 and extending awayfrom the ball position demarcations 40 along a curve so as to intersectthe mid-swing demarcation 54, the high-swing demarcation beingconfigured to enable the optimal path of light to track within thehigh-swing demarcation 59 as the club is shifted between the midwayposition and the top position of the swing.

Preferably, the swing zone demarcation 50 further comprises a low-swingdemarcation 58 originating substantially adjacent to the foot positiondemarcations 30 and extending away from the foot position demarcations30 at an angle relative to both the full-swing demarcation 50 and themid-swing demarcation 57so as to intersect the high-swing demarcation59, the low-swing demarcation 58 being configured to enable the optimalpath of light to track within the low-swing demarcation 58 as the clubis shifted between a setup position and a midway position of the swing.

Preferably, the swing zone demarcation 50 further comprises a setupdemarcation 56 extending between the foot position demarcations 30 andthe ball position demarcations 40 so as to be substantially collinearwith the ball position demarcations 40, the setup demarcation 56 beingconfigured to enable the optimal path of light to track within the setupdemarcation 56 at a setup position of the swing, the setup positionbeing defined by the location of a distal end of the club adjacent tothe ball position demarcations 40.

Preferably, the foot position demarcations 30 comprise a left footdemarcation 32 and a right foot demarcation 34 wherein the right footdemarcation 34 is configured with multiple substantially paralleloutside edge lines 36, whereby the user positions the left foot withinthe left foot demarcation 32 and the right foot within the right footdemarcation 34 such that the outside edge of the right foot ispositioned against a select one of the outside edge lines 36 so as tohave a comfortable stance upon the mat 10 with the feet substantiallyshoulder-width apart.

Preferably, the ball position demarcations 40 are arranged substantiallylinearly so as to define a swing axis extending through the ballposition demarcations and passing between the left foot demarcation 32and the right foot demarcation 34. The left foot demarcation 32 isrotated counter-clockwise from the swing axis so as to be at an anglethereto, and the right foot demarcation 34 is rotated clockwise from theswing axis so as to be at an angle thereto, whereby the feet of the userwhen placed within the foot position demarcations are comfortablyoriented as the user swings the club.

Preferably, the setup demarcation 56 extends, as stated, from the ballposition demarcations 40 so as to be substantially collinear with theball position demarcations and to pass between the left foot demarcation32 and the right foot demarcation 34 substantially adjacent to the leftfoot demarcation 32, the setup demarcation being configured to enablethe optimal path of light to track within the setup demarcation 56 at asetup position of a mechanically sound swing of the club by the user,the setup position being defined by the location of a distal end of theclub adjacent to the ball position demarcations.

Preferably, the ball demarcations 40 are defined by hash marks and theswing zone demarcation 50 defines a swath at least four inches wide.

In the above apparatus a method of practicing and analyzing the swingingof a swing object (golf club), comprises the steps of placing auniversal swing practice mat, as described above on a ground surface,standing on the mat within foot position demarcations provided thereon,swinging the swing object over the mat, and analyzing the positioning ofthe swing object by observing a light projection from the swing objectwithin swing zone demarcations provided on the mat. Further, the stepsof holding the swing object in a setup position over the mat such that adistal end of the swing object is substantially adjacent to ballposition demarcations provided on the mat opposite the foot positiondemarcations; and analyzing the positioning of the swing object in thesetup position by observing the light projection from the swing objectwithin a setup demarcation provided on the mat are preferred steps aswell.

The method may include shifting the swing object spatially up and awayfrom the setup position as in a back swing to a low-swing position,analyzing the positioning of the swing object in the low-swing positionby observing the light projection within a low-swing demarcationprovided on the mat, shifting the swing object beyond the low-swingposition to a mid-swing position defined by the waist-high position ofthe swing object substantially parallel to the ground surface, analyzingthe positioning of the swing object in the mid-swing position byobserving the light projection within a mid-swing demarcation providedon the mat, shifting the swing object beyond the mid-swing position to ahigh-swing position, analyzing the positioning of the swing object inthe high-swing position by observing the light projection within ahigh-swing demarcation provided on the mat, shifting the swing objectbeyond the high-swing position to a top-swing position defined by theoverhead position of the swing object substantially parallel to theground surface; and analyzing the positioning of the swing object in thetop-swing position by observing the light projection within a top-swingdemarcation provided on the mat.

The method may also include shifting the swing object to a mid-swingposition defined by the waist-high position of the swing objectsubstantially parallel to the ground surface, analyzing the positioningof the swing object in the mid-swing position by observing the lightprojection within a mid-swing demarcation provided on the mat, shiftingthe swing object beyond the mid-swing position to a high-swing position,analyzing the positioning of the swing object in the high-swing positionby observing the light projection within a high-swing demarcationprovided on the mat, shifting the swing object beyond the high-swingposition to a top-swing position defined by the overhead position of theswing object substantially parallel to the ground surface; and analyzingthe positioning of the swing object in the top-swing position byobserving the light projection within a top-swing demarcation providedon the mat.

The method may further include the steps of shifting the swing objectfrom the top-swing position back through each of the swing positions soas to perform a forward swing, analyzing the positioning of the swingobject at each of the swing positions by observing the light projectionfrom the swing object in each of the respective demarcations provided onthe mat, shifting the swing object past the mid-swing position to alow-swing position, analyzing the positioning of the swing object in thelow-swing position by observing the light projection within a low-swingdemarcation provided on the mat, stopping the swing object in a contactposition over the mat such that a distal end of the swing object issubstantially adjacent to ball position demarcations provided on the matopposite the foot position demarcations; and analyzing the positioningof the swing object in the contact position by observing the lightprojection from the swing object within a contact demarcation providedon the mat.

The words used in this specification to describe the invention and itsvarious embodiments are to be understood not only in the sense of theircommonly defined meanings, but to include by special definition in thisspecification: structure, material or acts beyond the scope of thecommonly defined meanings. Thus if an element can be understood in thecontext of this specification as including more than one meaning, thenits use must be understood as being generic to all possible meaningssupported by the specification and by the word or words describing theelement.

The definitions of the words or elements of this described invention andits various embodiments are, therefore, defined in this specification toinclude not only the combination of elements which are literally setforth, but all equivalent structure, material or acts for performingsubstantially the same function in substantially the same way to obtainsubstantially the same result. In this sense it is thereforecontemplated that an equivalent substitution of two or more elements maybe made for any one of the elements in the invention and its variousembodiments below or that a single element may be substituted for two ormore elements in a claim.

Changes from the claimed subject matter as viewed by a person withordinary skill in the art, now known or later devised, are expresslycontemplated as being equivalents within the scope of the invention andits various embodiments. Therefore, obvious substitutions now or laterknown to one with ordinary skill in the art are defined to be within thescope of the defined elements. The invention and its various embodimentsare thus to be understood to include what is specifically illustratedand described above, what is conceptually equivalent, what can beobviously substituted, and also what essentially incorporates theessential idea of the invention.

While the invention has been described with reference to at least onepreferred embodiment, it is to be clearly understood by those skilled inthe art that the invention is not limited thereto. Rather, the scope ofthe invention is to be interpreted only in conjunction with the appendedclaims and it is made clear, here, that the inventor(s) believe that theclaimed subject matter is the invention.

1. A universal swing practice apparatus for use by a user swinging aclub having a light source attached thereto, comprising: a matconfigured to be placed on a ground surface so as to have anupwardly-facing surface; multiple foot position demarcations formed onthe upwardly-facing surface so as to represent the user's stance uponthe mat; multiple ball position demarcations formed on theupwardly-facing surface substantially opposite of the foot positiondemarcations so as to represent the location of a ball relative to theuser swinging the club and standing upon the mat at the location of thefoot position demarcations; and at least one swing zone demarcationformed on the upwardly-facing surface offset from the foot positiondemarcations and the ball position demarcations so as to represent anoptimal path of light originating from the light source when the club isswung by the user, whereby the apparatus is configured to accommodateusers of varying sizes and stances and clubs of varying lengths and toprovide to such users visual feedback of the club position at definedswing positions, enabling such users to assess and improve swingmechanics.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the swing zonedemarcation terminates at a first end substantially adjacent to the ballposition demarcations and terminates at a second end substantiallyadjacent to the foot position demarcations.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2wherein the swing zone demarcation comprises: a substantially linearfull-swing demarcation originating at the first end and extending awayfrom and substantially perpendicular to the ball position demarcations,the full-swing demarcation being configured to enable the optimal pathof light to track within the full-swing demarcation at a top position ofa mechanically sound swing of the club by the user, the top positionbeing defined by the location of the club during the swing substantiallyover the head of the user such that the club is substantially parallelto the ground surface; a substantially linear mid-swing demarcationoriginating at the second end and extending away from the foot positiondemarcations substantially parallel with the full-swing demarcation, themid-swing demarcation being configured to enable the optimal path oflight to track within the mid-swing demarcation at a midway position ofthe swing, the midway position being defined by the location of the clubduring the swing substantially at the waist-height of the user such thatthe club is substantially parallel to the ground surface; and asubstantially arcuate high-swing demarcation originating at the firstend along with the full-swing demarcation and extending away from theball position demarcations along a curve so as to intersect themid-swing demarcation, the high-swing demarcation being configured toenable the optimal path of light to track within the high-swingdemarcation as the club is shifted between the midway position and thetop position of the swing.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the swingzone demarcation further comprises a low-swing demarcation originatingsubstantially adjacent to the foot position demarcations and extendingaway from the foot position demarcations at an angle relative to boththe full-swing demarcation and the mid-swing demarcation so as tointersect the high-swing demarcation, the low-swing demarcation beingconfigured to enable the optimal path of light to track within thelow-swing demarcation as the club is shifted between a setup positionand the midway position of the swing.
 5. The apparatus of claim 3wherein the swing zone demarcation further comprises a setup demarcationextending between the foot position demarcations and the ball positiondemarcations so as to be substantially collinear with the ball positiondemarcations, the setup demarcation being configured to enable theoptimal path of light to track within the setup demarcation at a setupposition of the swing, the setup position being defined by the locationof a distal end of the club adjacent to the ball position demarcations.6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the foot position demarcationscomprise a left foot demarcation and a right foot demarcation.
 7. Theapparatus of claim 6 wherein the right foot demarcation is configuredwith multiple substantially parallel outside edge lines, whereby theuser positions the left foot within the left foot demarcation and theright foot within the right foot demarcation such that the outside edgeof the right foot is positioned against a select one of the outside edgelines so as to have a comfortable stance upon the mat with the feetsubstantially shoulder-width apart.
 8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein:the ball position demarcations are arranged substantially linearly so asto define a swing axis extending through the ball position demarcationsand passing between the left foot demarcation and the right footdemarcation; the left foot demarcation is rotated counter-clockwise fromthe swing axis so as to be at an angle thereto; and the right footdemarcation is rotated clockwise from the swing axis so as to be at anangle thereto, whereby the feet of the user when placed within the footposition demarcations are comfortably oriented as the user swings theclub.
 9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the swing zone demarcationcomprises: a substantially linear setup demarcation extending from theball position demarcations so as to be substantially collinear with theball position demarcations and to pass between the left foot demarcationand the right foot demarcation substantially adjacent to the left footdemarcation, the setup demarcation being configured to enable theoptimal path of light to track within the setup demarcation at a setupposition of a mechanically sound swing of the club by the user, thesetup position being defined by the location of a distal end of the clubadjacent to the ball position demarcations; a substantially linearlow-swing demarcation originating substantially adjacent to the rightfoot demarcation and extending away from the right foot demarcation atan angle relative to the setup demarcation, the low-swing demarcationbeing configured to enable the optimal path of light to track within thelow-swing demarcation as the club is shifted from the setup position;and a substantially arcuate high-swing demarcation originatingsubstantially adjacent to the ball position demarcations and extendingaway from the ball position demarcations along a curve, the high-swingdemarcation being configured to enable the optimal path of light totrack within the high-swing demarcation as the club is shifted furtherfrom the setup position.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the ballposition demarcations comprise multiple ball demarcations spaced along aswing axis.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein: the foot positiondemarcations define a left foot demarcation and a right foot demarcationand a foot axis therebetween; the swing axis is substantiallyperpendicular to the foot axis such that the ball demarcations arearranged so as to be progressively further from the user, whereby usersof differing sizes and stances and selecting differing club lengths maystand within the foot position demarcations and hold the club as in asetup position having a distal end thereof adjacent to a selected one ofthe ball demarcations.
 12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the balldemarcations are defined by hash marks.
 13. The apparatus of claim 1wherein the swing zone demarcation defines a swath at least four incheswide.
 14. A universal swing practice apparatus for use by a userswinging a club having a light source attached thereto, comprising: amat configured to be placed on a ground surface so as to have anupwardly-facing surface; at least one foot position demarcation formedon the upwardly-facing surface so as to represent the user's stance uponthe mat; at least one ball position demarcation formed on theupwardly-facing surface substantially opposite of the foot positiondemarcation so as to represent the location of a ball relative to theuser swinging the club and standing upon the mat at the location of thefoot position demarcation; a substantially linear full-swing demarcationextending away from the ball position demarcation, the full-swingdemarcation being configured to enable an optimal path of lightoriginating from the light source when the club is swung by the user totrack within the full-swing demarcation at a top position of amechanically sound swing, the top position being defined by the locationof the club during the swing substantially over the head of the usersuch that the club is substantially parallel to the ground surface; asubstantially linear mid-swing demarcation extending away from the footposition demarcation substantially parallel with the full-swingdemarcation, the mid-swing demarcation being configured to enable theoptimal path of light to track within the mid-swing demarcation at amidway position of the swing, the midway position being defined by thelocation of the club during the swing substantially at the waist-heightof the user such that the club is substantially parallel to the groundsurface; and a substantially arcuate high-swing demarcationinterconnecting the full-swing demarcation and the mid-swingdemarcation, the high-swing demarcation being configured to enable theoptimal path of light to track within the high-swing demarcation as theclub is shifted between the midway position and the top position of theswing, whereby the mid-swing demarcation, the high-swing demarcation andthe full-swing demarcation cooperate to form on the upwardly-facingsurface swing zone demarcations representative of the optimal path oflight originating from the light source when the club is swung by theuser, the apparatus being thus configured to accommodate users ofvarying sizes and stances and clubs of varying lengths and to provide tosuch users visual feedback of the club position at defined swingpositions, enabling such users to assess and improve swing mechanics.15. A method of practicing and analyzing the swinging of a swing object,comprising the steps of: placing a universal swing practice mat on aground surface; standing on the mat within foot position demarcationsprovided thereon; swinging the swing object over the mat; and analyzingthe positioning of the swing object by observing a light projection fromthe swing object within swing zone demarcations provided on the mat. 16.The method of claim 15 comprising the further steps of: holding theswing object in a setup position over the mat such that a distal end ofthe swing object is substantially adjacent to ball position demarcationsprovided on the mat opposite the foot position demarcations; andanalyzing the positioning of the swing object in the setup position byobserving the light projection from the swing object within a setupdemarcation provided on the mat.
 17. The method of claim 16 comprisingthe further steps of: shifting the swing object spatially up and awayfrom the setup position as in a back swing to a low-swing position;analyzing the positioning of the swing object in the low-swing positionby observing the light projection within a low-swing demarcationprovided on the mat; shifting the swing object beyond the low-swingposition to a mid-swing position defined by the waist-high position ofthe swing object substantially parallel to the ground surface; analyzingthe positioning of the swing object in the mid-swing position byobserving the light projection within a mid-swing demarcation providedon the mat; shifting the swing object beyond the mid-swing position to ahigh-swing position; analyzing the positioning of the swing object inthe high-swing position by observing the light projection within ahigh-swing demarcation provided on the mat; shifting the swing objectbeyond the high-swing position to a top-swing position defined by theoverhead position of the swing object substantially parallel to theground surface; and analyzing the positioning of the swing object in thetop-swing position by observing the light projection within a top-swingdemarcation provided on the mat.
 18. The method of claim 15 comprisingthe further steps of: shifting the swing object to a mid-swing positiondefined by the waist-high position of the swing object substantiallyparallel to the ground surface; analyzing the positioning of the swingobject in the mid-swing position by observing the light projectionwithin a mid-swing demarcation provided on the mat; shifting the swingobject beyond the mid-swing position to a high-swing position; analyzingthe positioning of the swing object in the high-swing position byobserving the light projection within a high-swing demarcation providedon the mat; shifting the swing object beyond the high-swing position toa top-swing position defined by the overhead position of the swingobject substantially parallel to the ground surface; and analyzing thepositioning of the swing object in the top-swing position by observingthe light projection within a top-swing demarcation provided on the mat.19. The method of claim 18 comprising the further steps of: shifting theswing object from the top-swing position back through each of the swingpositions so as to perform a forward swing; analyzing the positioning ofthe swing object at each of the swing positions by observing the lightprojection from the swing object in each of the respective demarcationsprovided on the mat; shifting the swing object past the mid-swingposition to a low-swing position; analyzing the positioning of the swingobject in the low-swing position by observing the light projectionwithin a low-swing demarcation provided on the mat; stopping the swingobject in a contact position over the mat such that a distal end of theswing object is substantially adjacent to ball position demarcationsprovided on the mat opposite the foot position demarcations; andanalyzing the positioning of the swing object in the contact position byobserving the light projection from the swing object within a contactdemarcation provided on the mat.
 20. A method of practicing andanalyzing the swinging of a swing object, comprising the steps of:placing a universal swing practice mat on a ground surface; standing onthe mat within foot position demarcations provided thereon; holding theswing object in a setup position over the mat such that a distal end ofthe swing object is substantially adjacent to ball position demarcationsprovided on the mat opposite the foot position demarcations; analyzingthe positioning of the swing object in the setup position by observing alight projection from the swing object within a setup demarcationprovided on the mat; shifting the swing object spatially up and awayfrom the setup position as in a back swing to a low-swing position;analyzing the positioning of the swing object in the low-swing positionby observing the light projection within a low-swing demarcationprovided on the mat; shifting the swing object beyond the low-swingposition to a mid-swing position defined by the waist-high position ofthe swing object substantially parallel to the ground surface; analyzingthe positioning of the swing object in the mid-swing position byobserving the light projection within a mid-swing demarcation providedon the mat; shifting the swing object beyond the mid-swing position to ahigh-swing position; analyzing the positioning of the swing object inthe high-swing position by observing the light projection within ahigh-swing demarcation provided on the mat; shifting the swing objectbeyond the high-swing position to a top-swing position defined by theoverhead position of the swing object substantially parallel to theground surface; analyzing the positioning of the swing object in thetop-swing position by observing the light projection within a top-swingdemarcation provided on the mat; and shifting the swing object backthrough each of the swing positions so as to perform a forward swing,again analyzing the positioning of the swing object at each of the swingpositions by observing the light projection from the swing object ineach of the respective demarcations provided on the mat.